Strange Veggies

by WiredBerries Editors — February 20, 2008

Roaming the produce section of my local grocery store looking for dinner inspiration, I came across a rather strange-looking bunch of greens. Red Swiss chard has almost fluorescent pink stalks with very dark leafy greens. Interested although slightly intimidated, I bought a bunch and hoped for the best. Turns out, this vegetable packs a punch. According to the World's Healthiest Foods database, if vegetables got grades for traditional nutrients alone, Swiss chard would be one of the vegetable valedictorians. The vitamin and mineral profile of this leafy green vegetable contains enough "excellents" to ensure its place at the head of the vegetable Dean's List. Swiss chard garners excellent marks for its concentrations of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. Swiss chard also emerges as a very good or good source of copper, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, protein, phosphorous, vitamin B1, zinc, folate, biotin, niacin and pantothenic acid. Its good for your bones, cancer prevention, the fight against free radicals, blood pressure, energy, and is a great source of fiber to boot. Searching online, I found a plethora of simply recipes, including delicious soups, that highlight this strange but wonderful veggie. Enjoy!